USA > Indiana > Historical data and life sketches of the deceased ministers of the Indiana Conference of the Evangelical Association, 1835 to 1915, Volume I > Part 22
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May 19, 1847, he lodged at Long's in Jacksonburg. Here he prayed that if it would be for his good to enter the matrimonial life, that the Lord might direct. A Miss Sarah Baumgartner was then in the neighborhood. Not being able to write, she asked Platz to write a letter for her to her sister Lydia in Illinois. He consented to do so if she would go with him to Jacksonburg where he would write. She agreed. On the way he inquired of her if she had in mind to get married provided she had an opportunity
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that would appeal to her. She answered "that she frequently had said she would rather remain single than live an unhappy married life." The time was too short to answer such an inquiry seriously. He gave her time to think and pray over the matter until next morning when he again had to leave. When morning arrived he asked her for her decision. With an earnest look she answered that she was afraid she might be unhappy. She further said, "When preachers get back in their religious work they usually turn out bad," but said "she meant no reflection upon him or ob- jection to him, and would, therefore, venture in the name of God." Hereupon he extended his hand and promised to be true, and with best wishes he departed.
At the Conference session, held at Naperville, Ill., June 9, 1847, Elkhart Circuit was again assigned to him, with F. Wiet- haupt and Welty as colleagues. A serious trouble confronted him this year. His intended bride could neither write nor read script. So lover's communications could not be carried on without assist- ance and embarrassment. April 13, 1848, he went with Jacob Baumgartner to Centerville, Ind., to secure the marriage license, and at 4 p. m. they were married. Rev. A. B. Schaefer officiated. On the 15th they moved to Klingeman's in the Dill neighborhood. In June he again attended Conference. He was assigned to Chi- cago Station.
At the session held in Naperville, Ill., on June 20, 1849, he was assigned to Elkhart Circuit, with Geo. Mermer and B. Uphaus as his colleagues.
On June 12th, 1850, the Conference again met at Des Plaines Emmanuel Church in Cook Co., Ill. At this session he was newly elected as Presiding Elder and assigned to Peoria District.
June 18, 1851, at the Conference session held at Brookville, Ogle Co., Ill., he resigned as Presiding Elder, after serving one year, and had Des Plaines Circuit assigned to him.
At the session held in Naperville, Ill., June 16, '52, he was re- turned to Des Plaines.
It is to be very much regretted that from this time on he kept no record of his life; many events in his life, therefore, remain unrecorded that might have been very interesting. But his life work speaks louder than words. His epistles were written on the hearts and memories of many. He was a faithful toiler in God's vineyard. He was an exemplary pioneer, ever alert to find new opportunities for preaching.
In 1853 he changed his Conference relation from the Illinois Conference to the Indiana Conference, which was organized in
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Naperville, Ill., in 1852. He served Whitewater Circuit in 1853 and Hamilton in 1854; St. Joseph District from 1855 to 1859; Whitewater District, 1859 to 1863; Indianapolis Station from 1863 to 1864; Marshall, 1864 to 1865; then he retired for one year, and Wabash District, 1867 to 1871. In 1871 he retired from the active ministry and located on a farm near Marshall, Illinois. Later he sold out and resided with his youngest son, where he died at the age of 87 years and 13 days. His wife also died soon there- after, and their bodies were laid to rest in the Marshall Cemetery.
As a preacher he was conscientious to his duties, faithful to the Gospel of Christ, Scriptural in his teaching, fearless in attack- ing sin in and out of the church, clear and unctuous in his preach- ing, courageous in correcting wrong-doers and in quelling boister- ous actions among rowdies during services. D. S. Oakes said of him, "He was powerful in the pulpit, and a good, practical theo- logian." If he failed in preaching he would record, "Preached without grace," meaning without effect or results. His towering stature, broad shoulders, somewhat stern expression, commanded respect and carried with it a strong personality that counted for something even among the roughs. The writer's father often spoke of a camp-meeting which he attended, where a gang of row- dies came with stones and clubs to disturb the meeting, and how tactfully Platz marshalled a squad of men and completely routed them.
As a disciplinarian he was fearless and firm. On January 21, 1845, he held a church trial on Sabbath desecration. Two men were put on probation for desecrating the Lord's day. At another place a woman was placed on probation. In Allen County, Ind., at Five Points, where members were in a constant turmoil with each other, and a number of fruitless efforts for reconciliation had been made, Brother Platz, on a Sunday morning, publicly expelled the entire membership from church. After this was done he re- opened the church doors and invited all who would hereafter live peaceably together, to again unite with the church. Some came back. The class was finally abandoned.
It was said of him that he hated affectations, shams and idle- ness. He was somewhat severe and critical with young preachers, especially if he believed they were not faithful to God's Word and other Gospel duties. He was neat in his public appearance and taught cleanliness as being a part of godliness. In all he traveled during his ministry 75,000 miles, mostly on horseback. His saddle- bag and Bible which he used many years are now in the museum
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of North-Western College at Naperville. This Bible he read through twenty-four times.
The Indiana Conference honored him four times as one of the delegates to General Conference, in 1855, 1859, 1863 and 1867, and once as trustee of Plainfield College for two years. Brother Platz reared a family of five sons and one daughter. It afforded him great joy that four of his sons followed him by entering into the ministry, namely, Nimrod J., Charles, Moses and Noah. The first and last belong to the Indiana Conference and the other two to the Kansas. Revs. W. G. Braeckly and D. D. Speicher conducted the funeral services.
D. S. Oakes presented the following memorial in rhyme at the Conference session :
Sixty years ago, or more, the veteran,
George G. Platz, a son of fair Alsatia,
These regions traversed o'er ;
With saddle-bags, on horseback, he
Through swamp, and slough, and forest deep,
Plodded his weary way. In summer's heat,
Or winter's cold, he still went on,
Hunting up German settlements,
That he to hungry souls might bring the
Bread of Life, and lead the thirsty ones
To fountains ever full and free.
With tall and rugged form, with giant strength,
With clarion voice in speech and prayer and song,
In many a rural neighborhood,
In hamlet, village, town, he Gospel standard raised, and firm foundation laid For church of his and our choice.
A pioneer, with all the meaning of the name,
Some thirty years ago from active service
He retired ; and now the Great Commissioner
Has given him his full discharge.
A chaplet on his brow I here would humbly place.
NIMROD J. PLATZ (1851-1913)
Nimrod was born in Chicago, Ill., Sept. 25, 1851, during the time that his father, Rev. G. G. Platz, was serving the Des Plaines Circuit. His school privileges were very ordinary, owing to the fact that the care of the farm devolved upon the boys while their
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father was away preaching. Yet through hard and persistent study and close observation he gained a fund of practical knowl- edge that proved of great value in his ministry.
CONVERSION AND MINISTRY
At the age of 12 years, under his father's labors, at Marshall, Ill., he gave his heart to God and united with the church. He at once became active and gave his best services to the church, of which he was a member. He attributed his conversion to the wholesome influence of his own home. His readiness to give his life to the service of the Christ and the church he likewise attrib- uted to his home influences.
When the call of God came in clear tones to him, he, in the face of a needy field, gladly yielded his life to the work. His class was anxious to recommend him to the work of a minister, hav- ing been greatly impressed with his earnestness and labors among them. He was licensed by the Indiana Conference in 1874 and appointed to Rockport. At the close of this year he was returned to Rockport, and afterward served the following fields: Shelby Mission, 1875-6. At the organization of the South Indiana Confer- ence he cast his lot with this Conference and served in her bounds most faithfully.
In April, 1893, when the South Indiana Conference was again incorporated with the Indiana Conference, he served another year on Camp Creek Circuit; then, in 1894-7, Vera Cruz; 1897-9, Bre- men; in 1899, on account of infirmities and family necessities, he located on his farm at Marshall, Ill. Later on he sold out, and, moving to Olney, Ill., he purchased a 20-acre farm and lived there- on until his decease.
He experienced many trying circumstances in his earlier days, such as were common to the early pioneers, but in ali the Lord gave grace and endurance. He had the joy of leading many to Christ, and greatly edified the churches to which he was sent. In his preaching he was Scriptural, practical, definite and always interesting. He had a style of his own that was fresh and varied as life. He was not guilty of lengthy sermons, never tired out an audience, and was always heard again. He was expository, textual as well as topical in his sermons, and did not hesitate to use striking and luminous anecdotes, which made his messages as breezy as the air. He was a natural orator, and, as such, never dabbled in things not understood, nor in cold, bald, dead, theologi- cal reasoning.
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He was married to Elizabeth Dawson in 1878, and was the father of six children, all of whom survived him. His end came after a lingering and exceedingly painful illness, Dec. 17, 1913. Rev. M. W. Sunderman conducted the funeral services at Olney, after which the body was conveyed to Marshall, Ill., where, after a brief service by Rev. J. J. Wise, P. E., and Leo J. Ehrhardt, it was interred.
PHILIP PORR (1819-1881)
This brother was born in Felsberg, Rhein-Baiern, Germany, 1819, and died July 5th, 1881, at Dayton, Ohio, where also his body is interred. He came to America in '42 and settled somewhere within the bounds of the Ohio Conference. Soon thereafter he was converted to God through the efforts of Evangelicals and united with the Evangelical Association. He was licensed and received into the itinerancy by the Ohio Conference in May, '50.
When the German people began migrating to Kansas, and the leaders of the Evangelical Association saw the need of following with the Gospel, Brother Porr was one of the first to volunteer his services. He hunted up the new German settlers in Kansas and helped lay the foundation of our present Kansas Conference. After a number of years' service in this capacity he found it neces- sary to return East, casting his lot this time with the Indiana Con- ference. He served the following appointments in the Indiana Conference: Newville, '65-67, and Van Wert, '67-69. While at Van Wert he had a mental collapse, due to the freezing of his brain, one bitter cold winter, on one of his long itineraries. In '69 he had to locate and was taken to the asylum. After a while he was sufficiently restored to be taken home, but never again was able to re-enter the work, preaching only occasionally as circum- stances would allow. On account of his affliction he was subject to melancholia.
He was a true and conscientious man, and although not pos- sessed of unusual talents, his sermons were clear, biblical and unctuous, and his labors successful. He was married to Susannah Alsbach, who survived him some thirty years. Their only two children died in infancy. Dr. C. C. Baumgartner preached the funeral sermon. He willed his property to the Indiana Conference, a house and lot in Dayton, Ohio. His widow had possession of it until her demise, the Indiana Conference keeping up the repairs and paying the taxes. After Mrs. Porr's death, Rev. Schuermeier, executor, sold the property for the Conference for $1,300.00, which flowed into the Conference treasury.
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HENRY PRECHTEL (1845-1894)
This brother was a native of Asch, Austria, and was born Jan. 11, 1845, and died Jan. 27th, 1894, at Emporia, Kansas. His body lies in the Gross Cemetery, east of Winamac, Pulaski Co., Indiana.
He came to America with his parents when about 6 years old, and located near Logansport, Ind., where he attended school. He was also catechized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Later on his parents moved to near River Bank, Pulaski Co., where they lived among the early settlers on a farm along the Tippecanoe River. Here his parents remained until their death.
HIS EDUCATION AND CALL TO THE MINISTRY
He was educated in the common schools, after which he pre- pared himself for teaching, and, for a time, taught school. Eigh- teen months before the close of the Civil War he entered the Union Army and continued with it until the end, attaining to the rank of sergeant of the 128th Regiment Indiana Volunteers. Several months during this time he was seriously ill. After he received his discharge he returned and again engaged in farming.
Henry later came under the mighty influence of the Gospel, as preached by ministers of the Evangelical Association, and was converted to God in March, 1871, when he also united with our church. From now on he lived a true, Christian life, and aimed to serve the Lord with his whole heart. He acquitted himself so well in the service of Christ and the church that already in 1872 his class recommended him for the ministry, and the Indiana Con- ference licensed him on Sept. 12, 1872, as preacher on probation. At once he entered the work and continued to study until he be- came proficient in both German and English, ranking among the best in the Conference. He was in the ministry continuously from Sept., 1872, to 1881, serving in the Indiana Conference until he was compelled to locate on account of the loss of his voice.
He served the following fields: Greenville, Richmond, Twin Lakes, Mishawaka. While in the ministry he had the great mis- fortune of being robbed of $379, missionary money, which he had just collected the night before his return from one of his appoint- ments. He, however, replaced the whole amount by the sale of all his young stock that he and his wife had raised. This amount may not seem large, but to them at this time it represented a small fortune. His most grievous trial was the loss of his voice that compelled him to locate.
He remained quite active in the church all his life, and liber- ally supported the cause of missions. He had "almost phenomenal
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success" in his revival work, having many souls for his ministra- tion. It was said of him "that he was an interesting, fluent and forceful speaker. His sermons were always well arranged and well in hand. It was frequently remarked by the older members that he always concluded his sermons before they were half ready for him to quit.
A few years after he located he moved to Pratt Co., Kan., hoping to recover his lost voice, but not getting the expected help he moved to Salem, Oregon, where he remained 2 years. From here he moved back to Emporia, Kan., realizing that his life would soon terminate. Two days before his demise he testified to the fact that "all is well with my soul, and told his family to trust in the Lord who doeth all things well." He was survived by his wife, five daughters and one son. He was married to Eunice May Dunfee, April 12, 1869, in Pulaski Co., Ind. His funeral was held in the Methodist Episcopal Church of Emporia. The pastor, Rev. Ewald of the Evangelical Association, preached the sermon, as- sisted by the Methodist Episcopal pastor and G. A. R. Post.
ROBERT RAINEY (1844-1897)
Brother Rainey was born near Fostoria, Seneca County, Ohio, No- vember 17, 1844, and departed this life, April 10, 1897, and was bur- ied in Blakeslee Cemetery, Wil- liams Co., Ohio. He was survived by his wife and children. He was converted in '67 in the United Brethren Church, Seneca Co., O., which he also joined. He was rec- ommended to the Indiana Confer- ence by the Oak Grove class on Edgerton Circuit, and was licensed April, 1882. He was ordained as deacon in '85, and elder, '87.
He had the privilege of being reared by Christian parents, mem- bers of the United Brethren Church. His father was one of the pioneer settlers in Seneca Co., Ohio, hence Robert received only
ROBERT RAINEY
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an ordinary country school education, but by home readings and study he became fairly well equipped for his high calling. On Oct. 6, 1870, he was united in marriage with Anetha Boughton, and in 1872 moved to Williams Co., O., about 6 miles north-west of Bryan, where he bought a small farm. Here he united with the Evan- gelical Association at Oak Grove class of Edgerton Circuit. He continued serving the Lord with faithfulness and the church of his choice with acceptability, and soon won the esteem and confidence of the people of Oak Grove class, which in due time recommended him for license. Previous to his ministry he served as class-leader and Sunday-school superintendent, and showed aptness in giving instructions and of leadership in things spiritual.
His father died when he was 17 years old, and being thus deprived of his father's sympathy and co-operation in religious work, he had many battles to fight alone. Though largely thrown upon his own resources, he made his life count for good. He had a peaceful and amiable disposition. In character he was true to his conviction, and in all his undertakings faithful. His preach- ing was exhortatory and unctuous, sound and effective. His de- livery was deliberate, his discourses logical. He was generally be- loved in and out of the church, and led many souls to Christ. In his pastoral work he was faithful, and in the performance of his duties he was systematic. He was devoted to his family. Bro. Rainey served about 12 years in the ministry on the following fields: 1882-3, Defiance Mission; Twin Lakes, 1883-6; Edgerton, 1886-8. Then he located on his farm for about 5 years; but dur- ing this time supplied Payne Mission 11/2 years, 1894-6; Ft. Recov- ery Circuit; N. Webster, 1896-7, and Bruce Lake, 1897, from April to June 10th, when he died. L. Newman and D. D. Spangler conducted the funeral at Kewana, and D. S. Oakes officiated at the old home in Oak Grove. He lies buried in Blakeslee Cemetery.
SCHUYLER D. RAINEY (1880-1907)
Schuyler, son of Rev. R. Rainey, was born 6 miles north-west of Bryan, O., March 3, 1880, and died Aug. 22, 1907. His body lies buried in Blakeslee Cemetery. Schuyler was 17 years old when his father died, and, with his mother, he moved upon a farm in Williams Co., O. He attended high school in Portland, Ind., and also took a short course in vocal and instrumental music, which was a great help to him in his ministry.
He received careful religious instruction at home, and at the age of 9 years, at Oak Grove, under the labors of J. Rees, was con-
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verted to God and united with the Evangelical Association. He developed into a strong and useful young Christian, and the so- ciety, recognizing his piety and ability as a leader, promoted him to the superintendency of the Sunday-school. He also was elected as class-leader, appointed as steward, organist and chorister, and in time filled nearly all offices with tact and ability. Amidst all this he beautifully manifested a spirit of humility, courage and de- votion to God and his church.
In the spring of 1904 his class recommended him to Con- ference, and in April, 1904, he was licensed as preacher on pro- bation. He did not take work, however, until April, 1905, when he was assigned to Scott Mission, which he served acceptably to the time of his unexpected death. He was a fluent speaker, and had a good, easy delivery. His sermons were plain, practical and Scriptural. He gave every promise of a very useful pastor and dispenser of God's Word. In his manner he was dignified. His social nature and his clean wit made him friends easily, but he had no place for frivolity. He led some souls to Christ in his short ministry. He was married to SCHUYLER D. RAINEY Miss Anne Krill of Oak Grove, June 6, 1906. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church near here, and proved a very acceptable helpmate to him. D. Martz officiated at his funeral. Other ministers were present and assisted.
JOHN RIEGEL (1808-1888)
This brother was born July 6, 1808, and died near Lights- ville, Darke Co., O., in 1888. Early in life he was converted to God and joined the Evangelical Association. The grace of God was with him, and he became actively interested in the work of the church. For some time he served as exhorter; later his class recommended him as a preacher of the Gospel. In 1835
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the Central Pennsylvania Conference licensed him, and he entered the active ranks, continuing 3 years, enduring the hardships of an early itinerant. In 1838 he transferred to the Ohio Confer- ence and served 1 year on Circleville Circuit in Pickaway, O. In 1839 he moved to Darke Co., O., north of Greenville, into the wild woods, where he engaged in secular work and was quite success- ful, yet he did not forget his spiritual needs, nor of the people around him. H. E. Neff said, "He served here as local preacher, comforted many in sorrows, and spiritually fed many hungry souls." Several years prior to his death he became unable to at- tend the regular divine services, due to impaired health. But his faith in God never wavered. He was generally found read- ing his Bible and church papers. They were his constant com- panions. He felt his life-work was done, and that he was merely waiting for his departure. Often he said, "I will patiently wait till the good Lord wills to call me home." Towards the last his mind became seriously impaired, but just before death he seemed to have regained the right use of his mind and said, "Glory to God," and expired. His end was peace. He had 11 children. H. E. Neff, pastor, then a member of the Indiana Conference, con- ducted the obsequies. J. Shamber and Rev. Mckibben assisted.
RUBEN RIEGEL (1818-1890)
The subject of this sketch entered this life in Armagh Tp., Mifflin Co., Pa., April 22, 1818, and died May 14, 1890, in Middle- port (Dunlaps), Ind. His remains were interred in the Smith Cemetery, Elkhart Co. He was converted to God in Warren, O., Jan., 1834, and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1842 he was married to Elizabeth Aultman of Summit Co., O., a pious young woman of the Evangelical Association. By her re- quest he united with the church of her choice, and from this class he received his recommendation to the Ohio Conference for license as preacher of the Gospel, which was voted him in the spring of 1846. He was ordained as deacon in 1849 and as elder in 1852. When the Michigan Conference was organized, in 1864, he became a charter member thereof. In 1866 his wife died and was buried in the Smith Cemetery in Elkhart Co., Ind. He was married the second time to Mary Stull in 1868.
HIS BOYHOOD AND CONVERSION
His father was a Lutheran and very much opposed to Metho- dism. His mother, however, was a whole-souled Methodist, very
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pious and conscientious in her religious duties. Her strict, pious and every-day Christian life exerted such a salutary in- fluence over her husband that he finally yielded and was con- verted to God. He lived a good, Christian life, and became class-leader, in which capacity he served for a long time. The whole family of children were converted through the influ- ence of the pious mother. When Ruben was yet a small boy his parents moved from Pennsyl- vania to Weatherfield, O., lo- cating on a farm. Here he re- ceived his first schooling, about which he said: "Having poor books and poor teachers, and having a great distance to go, I got but little schooling, scarcely worth talking about." From Weatherfield the family RUBEN RIEGEL moved to Warren, O. Here, ac- cording to his own statement, "I grew very wicked, and all the good that was ever in me was entirely rooted out." But later he was converted and remained a Methodist until 1842, when, at the time of his marriage, he united with the Evangelical Association.
HIS CALL TO THE MINISTRY
Ruben became active in the church and soon received the in- ner call to enter the Gospel ministry. Yielding was not without serious difficulties, his experience in this being very similar to that of other men who had realized the divine call, but who lacked suffi- cient schooling. But he finally obeyed and received his license. In 1846 he received his first charge, Bristol Circuit, under Frank- lin Tobias ; 1847-8 he served on Wayne Circuit with Phil. Schwartz. This was a very successful year. His next field was Columbiana, 1848-50. In 1850 he served Mansfield. At the close of the second year he had to locate in order to recuperate his broken health. In 1853 he re-entered the work and was assigned to Miami Circuit. Then Lancaster, Pickaway and Mansfield. Thus ended 11 years
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